Tiltable chiropractic table



W. G. WILLIAMS. TILTABLE CHIROPRACTIC TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1921- Patented. Nov. 7, 1922.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. G. WILLIAMS. TILTABLE CHIROPRACTIC TABLE.-

APFLICATION FILED JULY 18, I92]- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

I WWL I 5256 O 0 W. G. WILLIAMS.

TILTABLE CHIROPRACTIC TABtE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,192I.

1A35fl37, Patented Nov. 7, 1922. I

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

STATES 1,435,03 PATENT Fri WILLIAM G. WILLIAMS, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLIAMS MFG. 00.,

INC., OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TILTABLE CHIROPRACTIC TABLE.

Application filed July 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM G. WIL- LIAMS, citizen of the United States,residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tiltable ChiropracticTables; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form partof this specification.

This invention is an improvement in chiropractic tables of the typeshown in my Patent No. 1,269,354. dated June 11, 1918, whereby thepatient can be comfortably lowered from a standing to a horizontalposition when being placed upon the table, and can be raised toa'vertical position after being operated upon.

The invention provides novel means for raising the table frame when apatient is to be placed thereon, and for cushioning the lowering of thetable frame with a patient thereon; to provide novel means whereby thetension of the springs for raising and for cushioning the lowering ofthe table frame can be regulated; to provide novel means for regulatingthe auxiliary spring means to operate when the table frame is beinglowered with a patient; to provide an adjustable abdominal supportingcushion which may be either held rigid or can be yieldingly supportedwith more or less resistance by suitable springs; to provide novel meansfor adjusting the leg cushion;

and to provide novel means for adjusting the head cushion to any desiredangle.

Other minor objects and novel features of the invention will behereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate one practical chiropractic table embodying theinvention and will enable others to fully understand the invention andadapt and use the same, but I do not consider the invention restrictedto the arrangement of parts illustrated in the drawings and thereforerefer to the appended claims for summaries of the essentials of theinvention, and the novel features of construction and novel combinationof parts therein, for all of which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete 1921. Serial No. 485,669.

table showing the table frame in lowered po sition in full lines, andindicating it partly raised imdotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, with the various cushions removed,but indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the base show ing the arrangement for thesprings and their adjusting and controlling device.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section partly broken away.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line,8-8 Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the yoke 2.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the hand wheel 3.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view showing the means for adjusting andsupporting the abdominal cushion and head, breast and leg cushions.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of shaft 28* and parts mounted thereon.

Fig. 13 is a detail section on line 13-13 Fig. 11.

.As shown in the drawings the table comprises a lower supporting or baseportion and an upper adjustable table portion which as a whole ishingedly mounted upon the base so that it can be swung from asubstantially vertical to a horizontal position and vice versa tofacilitate the patients getting upon or off of the table.

The. base portion as shown is preferably formed of a casting 1 havingdepending flanges 1 on its side and around one end, and provided withsockets at its opposite ends for the reception of suitable foot pads 1".This base is provided adjacent one end and between the side flanges 1with a cross bar 1 which is provided with a horizontal opening for thereception of an externally threaded tube 2 on which is a nut 2 by whichthe position of the tube in the bar 1 mav be regulated. Through thistube 2 extends a slidable rod or bar 3 which extends longitudinally ofthe base and has one end supported in the tube 2 and its other endsupported in a bracket or lug 1 depending from the base near the outerend thereof. The other end of the bar 3 may be reduced or provided witha rod 3 which extends through an. opening in the outer end of the frame,and by which the bar 3 may be turned in the tube 2. A spring 3" isstrung on the reduced portion or member 3'of the bar 3 between the adjaoent end of the bar and the flange of the base, said spring; non

mally tending; to project the bar 3 toward the lug 1 for a purposehereinafter ex plained.

Mounted upon the tube 2 is a yoke 2 threaded to the sleeve so that theposition of this yoke relative to the bar 1 can be adjusted by turning;-the tube so to screw the yoke toward or away from the bracket 1, and itsposition can be further adjusted by adjusting; the tube longitudinallyin the bracket 1 by the nut 2. This yoke 2 has laterally projecting arms2 2 to which are connected the inner ends of major helical springs l theother ends of which are attached to a transverse rod 6 on the lower endof the table frame hereinafter referred to, and normally tends to holdthe table frame in upright position indicated in dotted lines in F l.The yoke 2 may be fastened to the tube by any suitable means to preventit turning thereon,

Mounted upon the bar 3 is a slide 5 which is provided with laterallyprojecting arms 5 to which are connected supph-imental helical springs4P which extend, parallel with the major springs 4, and are connected tothe rod 6 of the table frame. The slide preferably has a dependingportion 5" which is perforated for the passageof a guide rod 5c whichlies parallel with the bar 3 and has one end fastened. to a dependingbracket 1 on the base by a set screw and its other end extends thru thedepeiuling portion 5" oi. slide. 5 and is supported in an opening :T-iuthe lower side of the yoke 2 (see Figs 3, 4i, 8 and 9). The slide 5 isprovided with a dog or pawl 5 which is adapted to engage any one ofthree notches 3", 3 or -1 in the bar 3 to arrest the movement of theslide a ay from the bar 1. The dog- 5? drops into one of the notchesin'the bar 3accordring to the rotatorial adjustment of this barn Thenotches 3 3. i are successively spaced 90 apart around the circumferenceof the bar and also spaced apart longitudinally of the bar. The bar 3can be turned by a hand wheel 3' 'on the .outer end of the. rod 3 so asto bring the plain side of the bar 3 or any one. of the notches 3. 3K3*, therein uppermost in position to be engaged by the pawl 5 and thuscontrol the operation of the sup plemental springs ras hereinat'terexplained.

If the bar 3 be turned with the plain side of. the bar uppermost thenthe supplemental springs remain wholly inactive during the raising andlowering of the table. If the bar beturned so that notch 3 is uppermostthe dog will drop into the notch when the table .isfully raised toupright position and when the table is lowered the supplemental sprinqsd will coact with the major springs a in cushioning the lowering ot thetable and aid in returning the same to upright position. If the bar is'shifted so that the pawl would engage notch 3 the supplemen tal springsl would come into action after the table is partly lowered and willassist the major springsin returning the table to partly raisedposition. lVhen the rod is shifted so that notch 3 comes into position,the supplemental springs will come still later into action and goearlier out of action.

As stated when the plain side of bar 3 is uppermost the supplementalsprings remain out of action. Of course additional notches may beprovided if desired to give a greater variety of adjustment to thesupplemental springs, as may be desired by the operator, but forpractical purposes three adjustments are sufficient.

The wheel 3 may be provided with 4: radial arnis designated as 1,2. 3,4; (see Fig. 10) and this Wheel is fixedly attached to the rod 3 andwhen arm #1 is uppermost the rod will be adjusted so that pawl 5 wouldengage notch 3 When arm #2 is uppermost the pawl would engage notch 3and arm #3 is uppermost the dog would engage notch and when arm #4 isuppermost the plain side of the rod 3 would benext to the pawl and itwould remain ineffective. The wheel 3 may be of any desired form: andmay be set so that the numerals will bear any desired relation to theplain side and notchesof the bar The uppermost arm. of the wheel 3 isadapted to engage a plate 3" attached to the base (see. Figs. l and 2)and be yieldingly heldrin engagement therewith by, the action of thespring such spring; being under slight compression and the bar 3 movedslightly forward end wise when the hand wheel Z-l is turned.

An expansion helical spring -3 is strungon bar 3 between the bracket l.and the slide 5 and returns the slide and supplemental springs to theirinitial position when the table is raised to its upright position. Thisspring 3 aids the main springs at all times except when the auxiliarysprings come into play. The supplemental springs a are of muchgreater-strength. than the spring; 3 so that the latter aids, the mainsprings until the auxiliary springs come into action. The auxiliarysprings are depended upon to supplement the action of the major springs,to accommodate patients of different weights.

The. end of the base frame adjacent the bracket 1 and farthest removedfrom the hand wheel 3 is provided with opposite upstanding short curvedstandards 1 (see Fins. 1 and which support the through shaft 1 uponwhich the table portion is pivotally suspended. The table portion has asupporting frame consisting of parallel side bars or tubes 6 which areconnected at one end b a casting o and adjacenttheir other ems areconnected to ,hangersfi hung upon the shaft 1". To the bars 6 adjacenthangers 6 are attached depending arms 6" to the lower ends of which isfastened the rod 6 to which the springs 1 and t are connected. When thesprings. throw thetable to upright position (as indicated in dottedlines Fig. 1) the arms 6 engage stops or bumpers l on the base frame(see Fig. 3 and 4.) and limit the raising movement of the table.

The end casting 6 of the table frame has a lug 6 which is adapted to beengaged by a catch 7 pivotally mounted on the base,

(see Figs. 1 and This catch has an arm 7 which depends "through anopening in the base and is positioned to one side of the rod 3 and isconnected with the base by a spring 7 (see Fig. 4) which normally tendsto throw the catch into position to automatically engage the lug 6 whenthe frame is lowered and hold, the table in lowered position until thecatch is disengaged. When the catch is disengaged the table frame isautomatically swung upwardly by the springs 4, hereinbefore referred to.

. he table as shown has four cushion sections A, B, C, D. The head,chest and abdomen sections (A, B, C) are mounted so as to be adjustablelongitudinally of the frame to suit diiferent heights or lengths ofpatients and are also capable of being adjusted to other positionsrelativeto the table frame. The head cushion A may be constructedsubstantially as shown in my application filed December 11, 1920, SerialNo..429,962. -As shown herein it is supportedon swingable bars 8pivotally mounted on a shaft or rod 28 in the upper ends of standards28, the lower ends of which are provided with sleeves 28 (see Fig. 11)slidably mounted upon rods 27 above and parallel with the side bars 6 ofthe frame. Bars 27 are supported at their inner ends by castings 26attached to the side bars 6, and at their outer ends are secured to lugs25 on the casting 6 The sleeve 28 .may be locked to the bars 27 by ahand screw 28. or other suitable means. j j

The standards 28 are connected by the rod 28 and by transverse tie rod28 just above the sleeves and is secured to the standards by inner nuts28 and outer nuts 28. l

The cushion A can be supported at any de-. sired inclination by suitablemeans. As

shown a rod 30 is pivotally connected to the table and telescopes intothe upper end of a sleeve 30 which is hinged on the rod 28". The upperend ofsleeve 30is split, as atSO andis provided at opposite sides withlugs 30 having threaded openings which are en gaged by the threaded endof a bolt having a handle 30 so that by turning this handle (see Fig. 1)the split end of the sleev may he clamped upon rod 30 to hold the samesecurely in any desired adjusted position.

A U-shaped member 29 is hung upon the rod 28 (Figs. 11 and 12) andprovided with a transverse bore for the reception of a rod 2- the borebeing split at the inner side. The legs or" the member 29 looselyembrace the end of sleeve The member 29 is held in position on the rod28 by a nut 29 at one side and at the opposite side by the hub of ahandle29 which 'hub abuts against the nut 28. The opposed meeting facesof the hub 29 and the leg of the split member 29 are cam surfaced sothat by moving the handle 29 in one direction to rock the hub 29 on rod28 the cam surfaces will engage and cause the member 29 to tightly bindthe rod 29. By moving the handle in the other direction rod 29 will bereleased.

The chest cushion B is connected to the rod 28 by hinge members 60,.andis normally supported by projections 28 on the standards 28; the'chestcushion will also be supported on the hinged bars 66, which are hingedon rod 28 and carry the abdominal cushion C as described in my aforesaidapplication. when the chest cushion I is .Suf ficiently elevated to liftthe cushion B off of the projections 28 of the standards.

Hung upon the rod 28 adjacent the arms 28 are two hanger straps 31, thelower ends of which are brought approximately close together andpivot-ally connected to the illner end or" the rod 29, Tothe straps 31near their lower ends arepivotally connected one end of a notched ba1 32the other end. of which is connectedto a slide 34 attached to theunderside of-cushion C (see Figs. 1 and 11). 7

Slidably mountedon the bar 32 is a slide 32 having a catch 32 adapted toengage the notchesin thebar 32. This slide preferably has a bearing lug32 at one end which at all times engages the lower side of the bar 82;but when the catch 32 is disengaged from the notches the slide 32 can bemoved along the bar 32. 1

To the slide 32' are connected helical springs 32 which are hung fromthe rod 255 and are adapted to support the abdominal cushions yieldinglywhen the slide 34 is free to move on the rod 35,

The slide 34L carries a pawl 84" which is adapted to engage notch 35 inthe rod 35 (as shown in Fig. 9) when the rod is turned to bring saidnotch uppermost. The shaft. 35 can be turned so: as to bring notch 35uppermost to be engaged by the dog 34?, or so that the notch 35 will beat right angles from the dog then the dog 34 would ride upon a smoothpart of the barat which time the springs 32 would yieldingly support thecushion as in- Fig. 11. Rubber bump'ers35 may be strung on the rods35 beup against theleft hand bumper 35 in Fig. 11. When the slide is free tomove on shaft the left hand bumper 35 (Fig. 11),

-will. limit the upward movement of the cushion C, and the right handbumper 35 will limit the downward movement thereby.

While I. prefer to use the abdominal cushion adjusting devices as shownno claim is made herein for such abdominal cushion adjusting devices asthe same form the sub ject matter of a separate companion application.

The shaft 35 may be turned by any suitable means. As shown shaft 35 hasa pin 35which is adapted. to be engaged with an eye or loop in a rod 35which may be supported in openings in the hinge bars 66,

carrying thej'cushion C, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 11. By drawing thisrod right or left the 35 would beswung right or left and rock the shaft35 accordingly.

The leg cushion D is alsohingedly supported. as described in myaforesaid application, but in lieu of the adjusting devices shown insaid; application a pin 9 is pivoted to the frame supporting cushion Dand depends through a split clampmember 9 attached to the table frame 6(see Figs. 1, 2, and 3) and provided with a screw shaft 9 having ahandle 9 by which it can be turned. When clamp 9 is loosened the legcushion D could be adjusted to any desired angle and then secured bytightening the clamp upon the. pin 9.

It will be seen that the cushion C, can be held in adjusted positioneither rigidly or yieldingly at the will of the operator as in.

my aforesaid application.

To assistthe patient in getting on and off the table a footrest ispreferably provided. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a foot rest 16 isconnected to the adjacent endsof-the side tubesG of the table frame.

7 Operation.

' been already explained in detail in connection with the description ofsuch parts.

When a patient is to be placed upon the table, the catch 7 is disengagedallowing the table frame to swing upwardly to approximately the positionindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The patient then steps upon thesupport 16 then the table frame is lowered with, the patient to theposition shown in fulllines in Fig. 1

The major springs 4 hold. the table normallyin raised position, whenreleased by the catch, and cushion the lowering of" the table. Thesprings Alf if used will come into play as above explained as the tableis lowered. By shifting the point of engagement of the slides") with thebar 3 the time when the springs a will come into action and the strengththereof can. be varied, so that the operator can cause these springs tooffer more or lessresistance to lowering of the table and more or lesshelp in raising the table with patient thereon, according to the weightof the patient.

The relative inclinations of the leg, abdominal, chest and head cushionscan be adjusted by the operator according to the treatment the patientis to have, the abdominal cushion can be locked rigidly in adjustedpositionv by engaging the pawl 34* with the notch 35, or by turning thisrod'35 to the position shown in Fig. 11 so the pawl will not engage itand the cushion will then be yieldingly supported by the springs 32 asabove described the tension of these springs 32 and resistance of thecushion C to depression being 'regulable by adjusting the slide 32 onbar3 The capability of the various parts for adjustment and the meansfor adjusting same, and" the operation of the minor parts have all beenhereinbe'fore clearly set forth. The advantages of the invention andutility of the, table will be readily appreciated by chiropractors. andphysicians.

. What I claim is;

'1. In a table ofthe character specified, a base, a table pivotedthereon, major helical spring means connected to the table section,

an adjustable member connected to the base,

section and to the major, spring means, a member slidably mounted on theframe, and supplemental spring means connected with the table sectionand with said slidable member and means whereby the slidable member maybe left free to slide or arrested to vary the point. at which thesupplemental springs will come into or out of effective operation.

2. In mechanism as set forth in claim 1, means for adjustingthe tensionof the major springs independently of the adjustment of thesupplementalsprings.- V

- 3. In mechanism as set forth in claim '1, a sleeve, and a yokeadjustably mounted on said sleeve and to which the major springs areattached, for adjusting the tension of the major springs independentlyof the adj ustment of the supplemental springs.

l, ln i'nechanism 'as set forth in claim 1, a bar having notches atdifferent points inits length and "at differentpoints around itscircumference,- a sleeve'to which the supplemental springs are attachedslidably mounted'on said bar, and devices on said sleeve adapted to engae the notches of the bar, substantially as cescribed.

5. In mechanism as set forth in claim 1, a rotatable bar having notchesat different points of its length and at different points around itscircumference, and a sleeve to which the supplemental springs areattached slidably mounted on said bar, said sleeve having a pawl adaptedto engage with that notch of the bar which may be brought into the pathof the pawl by rotatorial adjustment of the bar.

6. In a table of the character specified, a supporting frame, a cushionsupporting member hinged to the frame, and telescopic membersrespectively connected with the said member and with the supportingframe, one telescopic member having a split clamp engaging the othertelescopic member whereby the members may be locked together to regulatethe inclination of the cushion supporting member.

7. In a table of the character specified a base section, a table sectionfitted thereon, major helical spring means connected to the tablesection, an adjustable tabular sleeve connected to the base, a member onsaid sleeve connected to the major spring means, a bar, a sleeveslidably mounted on the bar, supplemental spring means connected withthe table section and with said slidable sleeve, and means whereby theslidable sleeve may be left free or arrested at various points on thebar to vary thepoint at which such springs will come into or out ofeffective operation.

8. In mechanism as set forth in claim 7, means for adjusting the tensionof the major springs independently of the adjustment of the supplementalsprings,

9. In mechanism as setforth in claim 7, said bar being rotatable andhaving notches at different points of its length and different pointsaround its circumference, and said sleeve having a pawl adapted toengage with that notch of the bar which may be brought into the path ofthe pawl by rotatorial adjustment of the bar. i

10. In a table of the character specified, a base section, a tablesection pivoted thereon, major spring means connecting the base andtable sections, supplemental spring means connected with the tablesection, a rotatable longitudinally notched bar, and a slide on said barconnected with the supplemental springs and adapted to vary the point atwhich such springs will come into or go out of efiective operation,substantially as described.

11. In mechanism as set forth in claim 10, said rotatable bar havingnotches at different points of its length and different points aroundits circumference, and said sleeve having a pawl adapted to engage withthat notch of the bar which may be brought into the path of the pawl byrotatorial adjustment of the bar, and means for preventing the sleeverotatlng upon the bar.

12. In a table of the character specified, a frame, a cushion, a hingedmember sup porting the cushion and telescoping rod and sleeve membersrespectively connected with the hinged member and with the frame, thesleeve member having a split clamp engaging the rod member whereby themembers may be locked together to adjust the inclination of the cushion,substantially as described.

13. In apparatus of the character specified, a frame, a cushionsupporting member hinged thereto, means whereby the cushion member maybe rigidly yieldingly supported, a rod connected with said means, and aclamp engaging said rod whereby the members may be locked together tohold the cushion in different adjusted positions.

14. In a table of the character specified, a hinged frame, a baradjustably connected with this frame, swinging suspending linksconnected to the other end of said bar springs adjustably connected withthe said bar for yieldingly supporting the cushions, a rod connectedwith the links, and a clamp for locking the said rod to hold the framein adjusted position. 1

'15. In an apparatus of the character specified, a hinged cushion, meansfor adjustably supporting the cushion, including a rod, a clamp engagingthe rod having a cam face, and a handle having a cam portion adapted toengage the cam face of the clamp, whereby the said clamp may be causedto bind upon or release the said rod.

16. In apparatus of the character specified, a hinged frame carrying acushion, a pin pivotally connected with the cushion, and a split clampengaging said pin whereby the pin may be locked to hold the cushion inany desired adjusted position, and means for closing or releasing theclamp,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature.

WILLIAM G. WILLIAMS,

